lewis



M. G. LEWIS. BBNGH Vlr-SE.

(No Mode.)

No. 303,29Q.

Patented Aug. 12,.,1l884.

UNITED STATE-sf? PATENT einen.

MORTMER G. LEIWIS, OF LOWVLLE, NEW' YORK.

`BENCH-visr-z.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 303,299, dated August 12, 1884.

Application tiled November 28, 1883.

ro My invention has relation to bench-visos,

such as are ordinarily used by metalworkers;

but the improvements are applicable also upon other vises, being well adapted for light or heavy work.

.Among the objects of my invention are the provision of simple and effective means` for i permitting the adjustment of one of the jaws, r

(so that the vise may be made to clamp articles ofvarying widths, Src. preserving at the same time the requisite solidity of the movable head, obviating wear of the parts, and reducing the cost of manufacture, and the provision of simple, cheap, durable, and effective means for permitting a rapid adjustment of one of the ing-screw. To accomplish these objects, and to produce a thoroughlyT practicable, strong,

. andv durable vise, wherein the parts are not likely to get ont ot' order or be damaged by ordinary use, my improvements involve certain novel and useful peculiarities of construe tion relative arrangements or combinations of parts, and principles of operation, all of which will be herein rst fully described and then pointed out in the claims.

-In the accompanying drawings, forming part ofthis speciiication, Figure 1 is a vertical 1ongitudinal sectional elevation of a vise constructed and arranged for operation in accordancewithmy invention. Fig. 2 isa'eross-section throughtheadj ustablehead,takenuponaplane passing through line a: a: of Fig; 1. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section and partial plan upon a plane passing through line y y of Fig, 1, and Fig.4 is a plan view of thevise-bar, the sides of the adjustable head being shown in section. Fig. 5 is a plan view showing the two jaws closed together in a position to expose the oilhole through thevise-bar. Fig. 6 is a crosssecl 5o tion and partial elevation upon a plane passing through line zz of Fig. 1. Fig. 7 is a crossheads independently of the ordinary clamp-A which the heads are found to wabble, and re- (No model.)

section ofthe vise-bar upon a plane passing Vthrough the oil-hole. Fig. 8 represents an end elevation and plan of the top ofone of the abutting blocks for the movable nut shown in 5 5 Fig. 1. Fig.-9 is a cross-section of the slidebar, representing a modified means of con structing or arranging the oil-hole.

In all these iigures like letters of reference, wherever they occur, indicate corresponding 6o parts.

A represents the bottom plate or base of the vise, which may be secured to the bench in Vanyof the known ways, so that the base shall be stationary, or so that it lnay move as in the 63 ordinary forms of swivel-visos.

B is onevise-,head having jaw B', and connected with base A. G is the opposite headcarrying a jaw, C', made to approach or recede from head B. 7o

D is the sliding rise-bar, and E the vicee screw, having handle or lever F.

The head C is made movable, so that its jaw G inay be inclined with respect to B in order to firmly clamp articles with inclined sides. 75 Heretofore, in vises having these adjustable heads, the heads have been made to turn upon vertical axes or pivots, and these pivots constitute their main support or bearing when they are being used. Const-ant and heavy work cause wear and strain upon the pins or pivots, and the accumulations of metal chippings or filings result in a grinding or wear-V ing away of the bearings, in consequence of quire care and attention for proper adjustment; To obviate these diiiiculties I pass the slide-bar through a slot in the head C, and provide this bar with a curved bearing-piece, a, against which the head is formed to abut in whateverposition it may be adjusted. This bearing-piece a takes all the strain ofthe work, and is sufficiently solid and strong for the purpose. Itis also rie-enforced in part by the bearing of the head of the screw against the end of 95 the sliding bar. To permit the head C to move upon the bar, I enlarge the slot through the headat the rear part thereof, and also incline or cut away the rear part of the bar slightly, 'as shown in Fig. 4, the edges of the vertical walls of the head on each side being made to bear against the surface of the bar andturn- IOO 2 5 jaw shall remain parallel with jaw B.

I the jaws.

by a cam block or crank, d, made to revolve `ing upon these bearing-lines as upon fulcrums.'

A like adjustability might be secured by further enlarging the opening through the head toward the side of the lever, leaving the bar plain or straight, butthe construction indicated is preferred, because it does not materially weaken the head or the bar. The Ascrewpin b enters the material of the slide-bar, and is used only for the purpose of preventingthe head C from sliding forward upon the bar. Though the head moves loosely about this pin, the pin is not intended as an axis or fulcrum, and does not receive any of the working strain,

being made to pass loosely through the base top of the bar, either through the head or in advance of it, as well as by locating it'beneath the bar. The head so mounted and arranged to move upon the bar is solid and secure in any position, and may be fitted to place at very little expense. the purpose of keying the head C, so that its When the pin is withdrawn, it may be reversed in its socket, so as to prevent admission of dust, Src., to the socket. This form of movable jaw is applicable upon vises whether they permit of the rapid transit of the head or not.

G is a halfnut,which engages with the'visescrew. This is made vertically adjustable,

rso that when down or out of engagement with the screw, the slide-bar may be moved back and forth without turning the screw, and when up or in engagement the turning of the screw will insure the required opening or closing of The nut G is moved up and down `in a slot in the nut by means of a rod or lever, e, projecting through to theexterior. This cam-block is so mounted upon its rod that when the latter is turned a quarter of a revolution, (in order to free the nut,) the latter will drop down of its own weight; or, if

clogged or prevented from dropping for any reason, the nut may be forced down by a further turn of the rod, bringing the cam-block to bearupon the bottom of the slot in the nut. These parts are preferably so arranged that the nut will drop without danger of catching, and the slot in the nut might therefore be made without the bottom or lower margin. The rod e is prevented from slipping out of place by any retaining-pin, asf. .On the side next the movable jaw the nutv is sustained by an abutting-block, g, made solid and secure,

, and strong enough to withstand all the strains likely to be brought upon it by the clampingscrew. A block, 7i, upon the opposite side of the nut serves as a guide or steadiment for the nut, for which purpose it may be provided with guides or wings hh, and may be secured inthe base by a dovetailv joint or any other means. It merely prevents displacement or disarrangement of the nut, and, as no particu- The removable pin c is for lar strain is ever brought to bear upon it, it might be omitted if the nut is so mounted as to require no steadiment or guide. To prevent entrance of chippings r filings, &c. to the slot 7o in which the nut is made to move, that slot may be protected, as by the ribs i on each side. These cause the chippings, Sto., to enter the ways between them and the walls of the head in which the slide-bar moves, so that by frequent moving of the bar they are gradually worked out through the slot in.the head and do not interfere with the nut; but of course the nut will perform its offices without these protecting-ribs, and they may be omitted, if de- 8o sired.

At 7c is a small oil-hole passing through a projection, Z, on the under side of the top of the slide-bar and over the screw. In Fig. 9 is shown a tube, Z', which will answer for an 'oil- 85 conduit. These parts are not claimed herein. All the parts of the vise are simple, compact, and strong, and require no extra fittings or fine work in order to adapt them for use. They are not liable to disarrangement, and willbe 9o found'in practice to admirably answer the purposes or objects ofthe invention, as previously Q set forth.

Having now fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a bench -vise, the slide-bar passing through a slot in the adjustable head, said head being constructed and arranged to bear against the sides of the slide-bar at one end of the head, roo room being afforded between the other parts of the head and bar, as set forth, so that the head may be adjusted laterally, substantially as and for the purposes explained. n

' 2. In a bench-vise, the combination of the 105 slide-bar and the adjustable head made movable thereon, as explained, the bar being provided with a curved ledge for bracing the head, substantially as and for the purposes explained.

3. In abench-vise, the movable head mount- 1 1o ed upon the slide-bar and braced as explained, the clamping-screw mounted in the bar, and the retaining-pins arranged to retain the movable head, these several parts being combined and arranged substantially as shown and described.

4. In a bench-vise, the combination,with the clamping-screw mounted in the slide-bar, of a vertically-adjustable half-nut arranged to engage with or bedisengaged from the screw, 12o said nut being sustained and guided by the abutting-block in front and the guiding-block in rear, substantially as shown and described.

5. In abench-vise, the combinatiomwith the vertically-adjustable nut, of the cam-block lo- 12s cated within a slot formed in said nut, and'h'aving a projecting shaft for revolving it, said cam being arranged to raise the nut by bearing against the upper surface of the slot therein, substantially in the manner, and for the pur- 13o poses set forth.

6. In a bench-vise, the adjustable half-nut 4having a slot for the accommodation of the operating-cam and thel cam located therein, said nut beingarranged to drop of its own Weight, or to be forced down out of engage ment with the screwas the cam is turned, subthe strain brought to bear upon the nut by the clamping-screw, and the rear guiding-block having the vertical 'flanges for engagement with the edge ofthe nut, substantial] y as shown 2o and described.

9. In abench-vise having a vertically-adj ust able nut for engagement with the screw, the protecting-ribs arranged upon the margin of the slot in the base of the head, substantially 25 as and for the purposes explained.

In testimony thatI claim thc foregoing I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two Witnesses.

MOR-TIMER G. LEWIS.

Witnesses: I

JULIUS H. Woon, JOHN G. MARVIN. 

